Was she trying to ignore them? The ravens. She knew exactly what this ever-gathering conspiracy of birds meant. She knew exactly whom they meant. But she was trying very hard to pretend otherwise, as she continued her increasingly pitiable trek across the Caligo. And the reason why was simple enough…
I don’t want to see him.
Clearly, he didn’t much care what she did or didn’t want.
He never had.
More and more ravens began to pursue her. They’d fly ahead, cluster unkindly upon a single tree, occupying every branch. And as she passed, the birds would depart en masse and descend upon the next tree, only by that time there’d be still more of them. And more at the next tree. And more at the next.
“You’re not exactly subtle,” she grumbled, knowing he could hear her even if she never spoke the words aloud.
It was almost getting ridiculous. In a flurry of black wings, the ravens launched themselves (himself) off one tree and descended upon another that could barely bear the weight of them all (him all). This got her to stop. And the reason why was simple enough…
I’d actually enjoy seeing that tree trunk snap in two, and watching all those damn birds (him) get as drenched and miserable as I am.
The tree bent dangerously. The birds cawed nervously, shifting on the branches with their clawed feet. Liliana Vess waited. Then she had an idea.
This could be fun.
She reached out a hand and reached out with her magic, pulling the life force from the sagging tree, from its thin trunk and too many branches. The tree died, but she kept going, hoping to make the wood brittle and corrupt.
It’s working…
It worked. The tree snapped, and the ravens were forced to scatter.
But it only took one.
A single raven descended, morphing into her second greatest nemesis: the Raven Man. He was just how she remembered him from her childhood. His precisely trimmed white hair and beard, his immaculate—if slightly dated—mode of dress. His shining golden eyes. “Still dapper, after all these years,” she said to him in a tone that belied the compliment.
He isn’t just how I remember him. He’s exactly how I remember him.
An illusion then. Or maybe he was a very precise shapeshifter. Either way, she knew that what she saw was no more real, no more him, than the birds had been. After all these years, she still didn’t know what he really looked like. Or who he truly was.
I probably don’t want to know.
He said, “I wish I could return the compliment. But you’ve never looked worse in my eyes.”
“I could use a good inn with the proper amenities. Can you recommend one in the neighborhood?” She was trying to sound like Liliana Vess.
But I’m not pulling it off.
He confirmed that for her with a sad shake of his head and an expression that clearly was meant to say, You sound as pathetic as you look. Instead, he said, “I’ve come to whet your almost blunted purpose. Why do you wallow in self-pity, here? You have all the power you ever dreamed of, and now you are free of your demons and the dragon!”
“But not free of you!” she screamed, suddenly shaking.
“No,” he confirmed. “But I am not your enemy. I have never been your enemy. All I’ve ever wanted is to guide you toward becoming the best, truest and most powerful version of yourself that you may be. I can still do that. I know where to send you next. There’s even a nice inn there. Where you can clean up. Feel more like yourself. All you have to do is listen.”
All I have to do is listen. Listen and obey.
Still, it was tempting. She had achieved all her goals—if in the worst possible way. The four demons that held the contract on her soul had been slain. The dragon that took over that contract had been reduced to dust. She was free. She was powerful. And although another quick glance at her reflection in the water revealed that, yes, she could definitely use a hot bath, she was still young and beautiful. Missions accomplished; goals achieved. The obvious drawback being that she had never, never, thought beyond those goals.
What do I do now?
The Raven Man was once again offering her purpose and direction. He tried to play it off as if he were a benevolent father figure, and she his beholden apprentice. Not like she was a loaded cannon, and he a man taking aim.
Whom would he make me hurt this time? That is, whom besides Liliana Vess?
She knew that in her current state, she was particularly vulnerable to his machinations and manipulations. She also knew that the Raven Man simply wanted to use her, like the demons had used her. Like Bolas had used her. But she knew that the Raven Man had the potential to be worse than her other enemies…
Because he was the bastard who started me down this damned path in the first place.